William Drew Dittmar

THE marine activities that center in New York Harbor are thoroughly diversified and may be grouped in many classes, but a special degree of importance belongs to those having to do with the vital needs of the harbor itself. Among these no item of transportation is of greater moment than that having to do with the distribution of coal to points in New York Harbor, Hudson River and Long Island Sound.

A constant supply of coal is of the highest importance not only to the comfort and welfare of the inhabitants and industries o f Greater New York and its surroundings, but is also a vital need in connection with the port and harbor activities, the work of the busy yards, shops and factories that line the banks of the bays and streams, the bunkering of the thousands of vessels that come and go, and the movements of the harbor craft.

In the coal trade of local waters an important enterprise is that of William Drew Dittmar, of No. I Broadway, New York, who has been engaged in business for himself, in this line, since 1904. He was born in New York City, October

29, 1880, the son of William Dittmar, Jr., and Agnes (Ewing) Dittmar. He was graduated from the public schools of New York City in 1897, and entered upon business life in the service of the First National Bank of New York at 1 Wall Street. Later he was employed for some time with the banking house of John H. Davis & Company, at 10 Wall Street, and then for a short time with the Smokeless Fuel Company at No. 1 Broadway until 1904, when he started, on his own account, in the marine transportation of coal. His business in this line covers the operation of barges in the transportation of cargoes of coal to all points of delivery around New York in New York Harbor, the Hudson River and Long Island Sound.

He began his business with the purchase of a single barge of five hundred tons capacity, but his prompt and well-organized service brought him a large business and increasing demands

which have compelled him, as time went on, to enlarge his facilities and increase his activities, until he now operates a fleet of twenty-five barges, with a capacity up to 1,400 tons each. This fleet is kept steadily busy with the constant movement of coal to all parts of the harbor, which is necessary to provide fuel for the ever-expanding activities of the harbor and the various coaling needs that are incident to the vast business of New York.

Mr. Dittmar has brought about his success by the energy he has constantly applied to the management of the business. He has been kept especially busy by the increased demands of the port during the war period.

With the development of larger commerce now in full operation, the business of coal supply to ocean-going bunkers must continue to enlarge, and in this expansion no one is better prepared to participate than Mr. Dittmar.

He is a member of the Atlantic Yacht, Crescent Athletic and Whitehall Clubs and other or-ganizations.